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CATALOGUE 


OF 


THIRTY-ONE CANVASSES 


CELEBRATED 
COLLECTION MELE 


11 BOULEVARD De La MADELAINE 
PARIS, FRANCE 


At Strictly Absolute Sale By Auction 


ON THE EVENING OF | 


Friday, January 14th, 1910 


AT HALF-PAST EIGHT O’CLOCK 


AT THE 


FIFTH AVENUE ART GALLERIES 
546 FIFTH AVENUE, Cor, 45th Street 


James P. Sizo, - - AUCTIONEER 


poe : THE ALEXANDER PRESS, 
: a ; 114-116, West 27th Stee 
oon i ere uae he . ‘steatt New. York, 


FOREWORD. 


ROUGHT up in the midst of affluent Art, “knowing 
his Paris well,’’ and becoming more and more deeply 
_ impressed with the zeal in collecting, of those who 
also grew to know and to respect the intelligent Art ambi- 
tion which long ago constituted Paris an Art Mecca, the 
owner of the Canvasses narrated here himself determined to 
become an Art collector some twenty years or so ago. His 
taste was distinctly of the romantic and graceful School that 
was born and cherished in dainty and brilliant French Court 
Epochs, and it was daintiness and brilliancy quickened and 
intensified by romantic or tragic story that most allured him, 
and that gave greatest zest to his quest. 


Monsieur de Mélé had no desire to assemble a Col- 
lection of heroic or surprising Canvasses; the charm of the 
Epoch, the personality of the Artist, the subjects they gave 
themselves up to with greatest abandon, a bijou Collection 
of a purely and intimately representative character—this 
was his ambition. With exceptional privilege among 
wealthy and distinguished Art Collectors between whom 
and himself the “entente cordial’’ was strong and of long 
standing, he found many unusual opportunities to gratify 
his desire, and to such result that since he so entered upon 
his quest, the “Collection Mélé’” has become known as a 
bijou Collection of extraordinary interest and importance, 
and has been visited by Art authorities of the highest dis- 
tinction; it is also the recognized source whence have come 
many gems of the Schools to which he devoted himself now 
to be seen in great public Art Institutions like the National 
Galleries, London, which he has enriched with two gifts, 
and in splendid Private Collections. 

Repeated and urgent rumors of the breadth and 
strength of the present Art awakening in America have 
induced Mons. de Mélé to place these charming Canvasses 
from the Collection in his Private Galleries at command of 


the American public. 


CONDITIONS OF SALE. 


1. The highest bidder to be the Buyer, and if any dispute 
arise between two or more bidders, the lot so in dispute shall 
be immediately put up again and re-sold. 

2. The purchasers to give their names and addresses and 
to pay down a cash deposit, or the whole of the purchase money 
sf required, in default of which the lot or lots so purchased 
to be immediately put up again and re-sold. 

3. The lots to be taken away at the buyer’s expense and 
risk upon the conclusion of the sale and the remainder of the 
purchase money to be absolutely paid or otherwise settled for 
to the satisfaction of the Auctioneer, on or before delivery; in 
default of which the undersigned will not hold himself respon- 
sible if the lots be lost, damaged or destroyed, but they will be 
left at the sole risk of the purchaser. 

4. The lots to be taken away and paid for, whether genu- 
ine and authentic or not, with all faults and errors of descrip- 
tion, at the buyer’s expens and risk, within Two Days from 
the sale; THE FirrH AVENUE ART GALLERIES not being 
responsible for the correct description, genuineness or authen- 
‘ticity of, or any fault or defect in any lot, and making no 
-watranty whatever. : 

5. To prevent inaccuracy in delivery and inconvenience 
‘in settlement of the purchases, no lot can on any account be 
‘removed during the sale. 

6. If, for any cause, an article purchased cannot be deliv- 
ered in as good condition as the same may have been at the time 
-of its sale, or should any article purchased thereafter be stolen 
-or misdelivered, or lost, the undersigned is not to be held liable 
in any greater amount than the price bid by the purchaser. 

7. Upon failure to comply with the above conditions, the 
‘money deposited in part payment shall be forfeited; all Lots 
uncleared within the time aforesaid shall be re-sold by public 
or private Sale, without further notice, and the deficiency, if 
any, attending such re-sale, shall be made good by the defaulter 
at this sale, together with all charges attending the same. This 
condition is without prejudice to the right of the Auctioneer 
‘to enforce the contract made at this Sale, without such re-sale, 
if he thinks fit. 

THE FIFTH AVENUE ART GALLERIES are in no 
‘ways responsible for the charges or manner of delivery of 
‘goods purchased at thewr sale. 


JAS, Fy.olLO,Atctioneer- 


NATTIER 
‘ No. 13. Mme. Adelaide of France, as Diana 


1 


FRENCH SCHOOL OF THE XVUI. CENTURY 


A CHILD’S FIRST STEPS 
From the Collection of Baronne de la Fontaine 


Height, 25% inches; width, 2734 inches 


CHAPLIN (CHARLES) 


1825—1889 
PORTRAIT OF MDLLE. INEZ BLANQUI 


Daughter of the famous Publisher and Economist, Adolph 
Blanqui, and niece of the»celebrated Politician, Auguste 


Blanqui. Mdlle. Blangui was betrothed to the artist. She 
died in 1854. 


Signed (lower left), “Charles Chaplin” 
Date (lower night), 1853 


From the Collection of the Mazes-Blanqui family — 


_ Height, 30% inches; width, 257 inches 


4 OF 


DUTCH SCHOOL, XVI. CENTURY 


(PRIMITIVE) 
MADONNA 
Date (lower right on sword), 1565 
From econo of Gen. Baron de Posson 


Height, 29 inches; width, 34% inches 


4 


MOLENAER (JEAN NIENSE) 
1668—DutcH SCHOOL 
THE WARM FOOT 


Signed and dated (the date is somewhat sbicnea at lower ae: 
right, J. N. Molenaer ae 


From the Fonte of Gen. Berea de Posson 


Height, 17% inches; width, 25 inches 


1OY 9 IsloyD ‘esduepisey MON SIT 
je inopedwiog ef xp smnbiey ey} Sunusseig ‘AK smoy ‘oz ‘on 
ZVId 


DECAMP (ALEXANDER GABRIEL) 
18031860 
MARCHING SOLDIERS 
ee eee te the lower left 


This Painting is from Decamp’s own Private Collection 


Height, 16% inches; width, 13 inches 


BEECHEY (SIR WILLIAM) 


HOOL. 


ENGLISH Sc 


17531839. 


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LARGILLIERE (NICOLAS) 
1656—1 746 


PORTRAIT OF A GENTLEMAN OF THE 
COURT OF LOUIS XVL -; 


From the Collection of Baronne de la Fontaine 


Height, 32)2 inches; width, 26 inches 


GREUZE 
Young Girl with Rose 


Nov Zi; 


1699—1767 


ine 


S = F rom the Collection of Baronne ele Boats 


inches 


| Height, 1524 inches; | AE 


254 


| 


5° 


CHALLE (CHARLES MICHEL ANGE) 


10 


1718—1778 
GIRL WITH CHERRIES 
From the Collection of Baronne de la Fontaine 


Height, 15 inches; width, 22)2 inches 


Mays 1642 Co ee 


a : _ LUCREZIA ae 
sz One of the best known and most tragic works of Guido | 

at his best period. | ‘ 

ne : Dated “Anno 1612” at upper fete 


- From the Collection of Marquis d’Ossun 


Height, 21 inches; width, 18 inches 


7 


¢ 


a 12 


COYPEL (CHARLES ANTOINE) 
1694-1752 
THE ASTONISHED MAGDELENE 


“TI am He who ye seek”’ 


This Painting was exhibited in the National Galleries of 
1729 where it obtained instant and pronounced success. 
The expression on the face of the Magdelene created a great 
sensation. [he works of Ch. Coypel are exceedingly rare, 


and as a rule are only to be seen in great Museums. 
Signed and dated 
From the Collection of Baronne de la Fontaine 


Height, 32 inches; width, 2534 inches 


BOUCHER 


Innocence Asleep 


No. 22. 


3 
NATTIER (JEAN MARC) 


1685—1 766 


PORTRAIT OF MADAME ADELAIDE OF 
FRANCE AS DIANA 


Daughter of Louis XV. at the age of twenty 


From the Collection of Gen. Baron de Posson 


Height, 3632 inches; width, 29 inches 


14 


DAUBIGNY (CHARLES FRANCOIS) 
1817—1878 
THE BANKS OF L’OISE 
Signed Daubigny on lower right. Also has red seal C. D. 


From the Collection of Monsieur Garnier, 


Daubigny’s Nephew 


Height, 17 inches; width, 27% inches 


HGHER (FRANCOIS) © 


o 


Bee ee 


SUMMER 


f 


ae From the Collection of Baronne de la F ontaine | 


ae Height, 16 inches; width, 13 inches - 


we, 


¢ 


"From the Collection of Baronne 


Height, 16 inches; } width, 13 . 


- 


my < 


Bung sue Puyd ve “ON 
LAAONV'T 


16961736 


__GALLANTS GATHERING IN A PARK 


abt. 2 Pa a 
cet te AOS TE LET NEL CSET 


— rhs Plitite has been ei cued as the work of Antoine 
| Watteau i in all the Collections in which it has appeared. 
Experts say that the left side is the work of Watteau, but 
that the ght appears to 0 be the work of Pater. 


From the Collection of Baronne de la Fontaine 


Height, 27% inches; width, 24 inches 


9) 
P 
18 


VIGEE LEBRUN (MARIE LOUISE 
ELIZABETH, MapaAme) 
1755—1842 
YOUNG GIRL PLAYING THE MANDOLIN | 
Portrait of the Artist at the age of sixteen | 
From the Collection of Gen. Baron de Posson 


Height, 24 inches; width, 1934 inches 


NATTIER 
Spring 


No. 25. 


—_* 


= 


Sa ae 
Sa eae 4 


= 


_ This Painting bears the characteristic personal signature 


_C. D. in ink 


Acquired from the Collection of Monsieur Garnier, 


_ Architect, Nephew of the Artist 


| Height, 21% inches; width, 46% inches 


20 


DIAZ DE LA PENNA (NARCISSE VIRGILE) 
1809—1878 


LOUIS XV. PRESENTING THE MARQUIS 
DE LA POMPADOUR AT HIS NEW 
RESIDENCE, CHOISI LE ROI 


Signed (N. Diaz) in lower right 


This Painting was ordered from Diaz in the year 1848 by 
Monsieur Duc, a rich collector of that period, who was also 
a pupil of Diaz. Purchased by Monsieur de Mele from 


the widow of Monsieur Duc’s son. 


Height, 222 inches; width, 29 inches 


my 


NATTIER 


No. 26. 


Summer 


21 
GREUZE (JEAN BAPTISTE) 
1725—1805 
YOUNG GIRL WITH ROSE 
Greuze’s favorite model at the age of fourteen 


From the Collection of Baronne de la Fontaine 


Height, 18 inches; width, 15% inches 


22 


BOUCHER (FRANCOIS) 
1703—1770 
INNOCENCE ASLEEP 


From the Collection of Baronne de la Fontaine 


Height, 1632 inches; width, 1234 inches 


Autumn 


27 


NATTIER 


No. 


20 | 2) @ 

NATTIER (JEAN MARC) 
1685—1766 

DIANA AND ACTEON 


Acteon surprised Diana in the bath, and was therefore meta- 
morphosed into a deer by the goddess. ‘This is one of the 
most remarkable works of Nattier, and is unique because 
of its mythological subject. This was the identical painting 
that won for Nattier the sobriquet ‘““Bleus-Nattier.”” This 
Painting was purchased contemporaneously with the “Four 
Seasons” from the Collection of Lord Pembroke, Count 
de Montgomery, etc. 


Height, 2512 inches; width, 31 inches 


24 
LANCRET (NICOLAS) 
1690—1743 
BLIND MAN’S BUFF 


From the Collection of Baronne de la Fontaine 


Height, 2334 inches; width, 29/4 inches 


Hs) é NATTIER 
No. 28. Winter 


25 ee 


NATTIER (JEAN MARC) 
1685—1766 
SPRING 
Supposed to be a portrait of the Demoiselle de Nesle 


From the Collection of Baronne de la Fontaine 


Height, 5124 inches; width, 38 inches 


26 


NATTIER (JEAN MARC) 
1685—1766 
SUMMER 


The Model who posed for this Painting is presumed 
to be Mademoiselle de Nesle 


From the Collection of Baronne de la Fontaine 


Height, 51 inches; width, 38%4 inches 


DROUAIS 


Marquis d’Ossun 


No, 29. 


. 4 


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NATTIER (JEAN MARC) )}”: 
1685—1766 
AUTUMN 


This is a Portrait of the Princess de Beauvau 
It is well known that two portraits of this beautiful woman 
were painted by Nattier. This one representing her as 
Autumn, and the bust portrait described in “The Works of 
Nattier’” (page 120) by Mons. Pierre de Nolhac. Per- 
taining to the Collection of Lord Pembroke in 1882, it 
afterwards passed to that of his son, the Count de Mont- 
gomery, whence it was purchased by Monsieur de Mele 


in 1903. 


Height, 5132 inches; width, 38% inches 


28 


NATTIER (JEAN MARC) 


1685—1766 


WINTER 


Considered a Portrait of La Marquise de Nesle 


From the Collection of Lord Pembroke 


Height, 5122 inches; width, 38 inches 


REMBRANDT 
No. 30. Portrait of the Dutch Admiral, De Floen Adlererona 


29 


DROUAIS (FRANCOIS HUBERT) 
1727—1775 


PORTRAIT OF THE MARQUIS D’OSSUN 
Ambassador of France to Madrid and “Grandee d’Espagne’ 
under Louis XV. Secretary of State to Louis XVI., also 
under-Secretary to the Duc de Choiseul. When Louis XVI. 
on ascending the throne appointed the Marquis d’Ossun 
Secretary of State in remembrance of the reunion of the 
family, then accomplished, he ordered this portrait to be 
painted by Drouais. ‘The table and arm chair shown in 
this painting actually pertain to the Mobilier National,~and 
are now in the Musee du Louvre. This portrait is consid- 
ered one of Drouais most important canvasses, and is de- 
scribed at length in the “History of the Reign of Louis 
XVI.” in the National Library. 


From the Collection of the Family of the Marquis d’Ossun 


Height, 86 inches; width, 65 inches 


> 


Le. 30 
REMBRANDT (PAUL VAN RYN) 
1608— 1669 


PORTRAIT OF THE DUTCH ADMIRAL 
DE FLOEN ADLERERONA 


Who was related to Gen. Baron de Posson, Commander of 


the Netherlands Cavalry, on the maternal side 
From the Collection of Gen. Baron de Posson 


Height, 2134 inches; width, 17 inches 


eBYdUOD FB] Pp SOUIN SOT ‘TE ‘ON 
OTTIANW 


ol 


MURILLO (BARTOLOMEO ESTEBAN) 
1613—1685 
LOS NINOS DE LA CONCHA 


Murillo painted two canvasses known under the same name, 
Los Ninos de la Concha. One may be seen in the Musee 
del Prado at Madrid. The one here shown differs from 
that in Madrid in four pronounced ways: ‘Three angels 
form the angelic group in the Madrid canvass, while in this 
there are four in the group. In the painting in the Prado, 
one end of the Rod of St. John the Baptist (that on the 
_ side of the cross) touches one of the angels, the other end 
resting on the earth covering part of the foot of Jesus. The 
proportions of the two rods are entirely different. In the 
canvass at Madrid the rod rests on the neck of the Christ, 
but does not cover his feet. In that painting also the ribbon 
of the rod is rolled to the cross, while in this it rolls along 
the length of the rod and the ““Agnus Dew’ is plainly legible. 
In the painting at Madrid the rod turns in the opposite direc- 
tion from the rod in this one. The painting at Madrid was 
among the first of Murillo’s great works and the composition 
is cold. ‘This is painted in much warmer lines. 


From the Collection of Gen. Baron de Posson 


Height, 41 inches; width, 48% inches 


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